#fem!dunk

Dunk was a squire before anything else, Arlan’s lad as they had been called since then, until the old man had died and Dunk had become a Knight. A knight in a tourney with a squire of his own for a few days until everything had gone wrong.

Egg had discovered what he truly was the morning after he had appeared at Dunk’s camp, when Dunk had thoughtlessly stripped to wash, but had not fuss over it and once Dunk had sternly informed him he was Dunk and would be referred to such in front of others the boy had nodded with acceptable seriousness.

He had even accepted Dunk’s preference to die with the secret rather than reveal it to save his life, yet somehow between the trial and leaving Ashford the truth of what laid between his legs had spread at least to his close family.

It was really luck that the injuries hadn’t revealed it to the whole tourney, or the seven’s help ensuring she never had much breast anyway. 

I am your man Dunk had said, he thinks he had anyway, and mayhaps in a better world it could have been true, it wouldn't have been a lie.

Prince Baelor’s death had ended that and quickly pushed Dunk to old news, it was bad enough to be the Hedgeknight that cost the kingdom its heir, Dunk knew enough that it would have been worse to be a lying woman that cost them that.

Still now it seemed the only ones that knew were the royal family, or Egg’s part of it, and they seemed to contend to keep it secret.

Prince Maekar hadn’t said the words clearly but Dunk wasn’t stupid enough to miss the the signs of that, hints, the pauses and the way the man’s eyes had lingered at Dunk’s chest and waist as they spoke, looking for breast and hips that were only really visible to Dunk themselves when they were completely bare.

It seemed Dunk had only done more to confuse the king’s son when he had turned down the placement at his castle; safety, security and secrecy more than he had ever thought possible and yet Dunk had refused. 

Dunk however really should have questioned Prince Maekar more when he had mentioned Sons, instead of foolishly assuming he had meant Daeron and Aegon.

The Prince had mentioned planning to send Aerion away to Lys until the prince had offered a more humbling experience.

Apparently Dunk was that humbling experience.

Dunk narrowed his eyes at the prince, the elder of the two he was now responsible for.

Egg had arrived the next morning, dressed in old boots, brown breeches, a brown wool tunic and a travelers cloak.

“My brother will be joining us soon.” the boy had muttered as he started straddling the horses, at that point making Dunk confused at the souriness of his words, given he seemed favourable of Daeron before.

It made sense when they had been joined not an hour later.

Prince Aerion arrived on a horse Dunk hadn’t seen before, a dark grey Palfrey, dressed similar to Egg, his white blonde dyed a blue-black colour making the bruises still covering his face darker but what was more surprising, and pleasing to see was the horse he brought alongside him.  

Sweetfoot’s appearance lightened the weight that Dunk had been ignoring in her heart. 

“Aegon mentioned you had arrived with three,” Aerion explained, the picture of princely charm as Dunk starred “and I asked the stablehand for the horse you had sold him, good thing your so singular, I assume this is the one or ill have to return to-”

“Why?” Dunk asked, both about Sweetfoot and why he had requested this, their last encounter had been dragging him across the field to make him yield.

“A gift for the trouble I caused you, my lady.” Aerion smiled gently at Dunk, Dunk could perhaps see how it could cause ladies to swoon, he was pretty even with the bruises but all it did was raise the hairs on the back of Dunk’s neck.

“I ain't no lady,” Dunk retorted quickly, the idea of that title ever referring to her, was strange. “You'll call me Ser or Dunk-Duncan.”

Aerion chuckled, slipping off his horse, and taking a step towards Dunk.

“Aerion decided you're going to be the mother of his children.” Egg cut in before the other could speak, quickly taking Sweetfoot’s reins and led her away from his brother to the other horses.

Dunk choked.

“Bluntly put, little brother.” Aerion said, his lips twitching, as he sent a glare after Egg before it vanished and he turned them back towards Dunk, who didn’t like the glimmer of something in them. “But he is correct. I've decided as the only woman who could force a dragon to yield, you will suit my bride. Our children will be-”

“I am no mother or bride.” Dunk interrupted, she wasn’t nobleborn or raised either but marriage and motherhood had never been something she thought of, let alone marriage to a high lord.

“Of course not,” Aerion shrugged, carelessly and full of confidence, it reminded Dunk of the night of the puppetshow and the Humphreys. “I will win you over and properly train you.”

Dunk could feel the weight of Prince Baelor in his arms, felt his hands curled into fists at his side and he was moving before he thought of it.

“I believe your father entrusted me with training you.” Dunk growled stepping closer to the prince to glare down and remind him of their last encounter, Prince Maekar had told Dunk to teach his sons to become true knights, and while Dunk has assumed he meant dealing with Daeron’s drink not Aerion’s- everything, this really hadn’t changed anything.

Aerion smirked looking Dunk up and down the way he had seen knights look at their woman, remembered seeing Ser Arlan looking at them before he sent Dunk to sleep with the horses.

Dunk hadn’t raised a hand against Egg despite his words because he was a good kid, the same could not be said for Aerion, so Dunk raised his hand and smacked Aerion over the back of his head, enjoying his shocked look and splutters before he turned away and walked to join Egg.

Biting his cheek to stifle any noise of pain from using the hand Aerion had impaled during the trial.

“Are you sure we’re safe with him?” he asked lowly, running his hand along Sweetfoot’s flank with Aerion’s muttering faint behind them.

“Father said if anything happens to either of us,” Egg answered, “He’d make Daella Daeron’s heir and banish Aerion to the free cities until Valarr requested his return.”

Dunk doubted Prince Valarr would ever ask for his cousin’s return and Aerion likely knew that.

“So he’s to be our companion.” he finished, giving the boy a long glance. “Are you fine with this?” 

He remembered the stories; of nightly visits and cats down wells, the earnest-desprate ‘Kill him’s during the jousts.

“You're too good for him Ser.” Egg told them, looking up with bright eyes and a smile. “But Daeron thinks you might be able to rub some good off on him- or something like that, they sent me out of the room after that.”

Dunk tried not to wonder if Daeron had another dream involving him. 

“And if he dies during our journey father said nothing about banishing me.” Egg finished under his breath and Dunk sighed when Aerion barked a laugh apparently hearing him.